The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-05-26
GAS OR MOTIF

Shall Indianapolis have natural gas or not?
That is the question of the hour, and upon its
decision depends whether the fortunes of the
city are to be made or marred. The present
situation is a crisis involving the elements of
success or failure for years to come, according
to the way it is met and managed. That In
dianapolis needs something to inspire it with
new life and growth will not be denied.
Everybody knows that who knows anything
about the past and present condition of the
city. For years it has been running in rut.
The people have been living largely on hope,
consoling themselves by repeating 'it is a
long lane that has no turning" 'the darkest
hour is just before dawn" and other proverbs
invented for the unfortunate. During these
years business has been done here at a disad-
vantage owing to the lack of capital and the
generally crippled condition of the COM
munity. Our best business men were con-
tent if they held their own one year with
another. Real estate had marketable
value. Owners of good property who would
have been glad to sell at anything like fair
price, carried it for years and years without
receiving an offer even getting a nibble.
There was no demand for it. In this situa-
ton feeling of general apathy grew up which
became chronic. The spirit of enterprise died
out. Men not only did not put their shoul-
ders to the wheel to lift the cart out of the
mud, but they even stopped praying for out
side help. They simply drudged along with
very little heart or hope, SO far as business or
business prospects were concerned. This
condition of nightmare is not pleasant to re-
call or dwell upon, but it is, nevertheless,
fact, and very recent one, too. Suddenly
the situation is changed. There is an awak-
ening. The discovery of natural gas in Indi-
ana causes boom among the smaller towns,
whose echoes begin to be heard at the capital.
Indianapolis rouses up rubs its eyes, and
begins to think the world moves. Natural
gas the most remarkable discovery of the age,
natures last, best gift to man, has caused
revolution in business circles in other States,
why net in Indiana9 1t has done wonders for
other cities, why not for Indianapolis So it
u,
quantities within easy piping distance, every
body felt the city's fortune was made, and its
future secure. After long, dark night, it
was to have long, bright day. OF course,
the gas would be piped here. 1t had been
piped much further to other cities, and we
should have it cheaper than any of them
Besides, it was necessity; must have it,
And still the wells kept gushing only twenty
miles away. But gas twenty miles away did
Indianapolis no good. The question was how
to get it here. When company was organ
lied, understood to represent the Standard Oil
Company, everybody felt that meant business
It showed that foreign capital was ready to
engage in the work of piping gas to the city,
and people knew if this company took hold of
the work it would be completed as fast as men
and money could Go it. The almost
certain prospect of getting gas within
short time caused revival in real
estate and started boom. This rested en-
tirely on the gas prospect. 1t had no other
motive or starting point. The activity of the
last few weeks has been mainly prospective.
If we get gas soon, it will continue and in
crease; otherwise it will languish and die out.
If there is less activity to-day than there was
fortnight ago, it is because the prospect of
getting gas is not as good as it was then.
Valuable time has been wasted already.
Public attention has been diverted from the
main point by the discussion of impracticable
and visionary schemes. Interests hostile to
the introduction of gas coming to the
surface and making themselves felt. The
prospect of getting gas this summer is not as
good as it was a month ago, and with another
month of delay it would be impossible for
any company, under any ordinance, to bring
it here this season. We seem to be drifting
backward in this matter, while other cities
and towns are moving to the front.
AS TO ORDINANCES.